A CUMBRIA Police investigation into allegations of child sex and physical abuse, which was shelved in the mid-1990s, is to be reviewed 'immediately', it has been announced.

Complaints were made to Cumbria Police in 1996 and 1997 by former pupils of Underley Hall School at Kirkby Lonsdale, a former residential boarding school for 'troubled young boys'.

A former pupil recently wrote to Cumbria Police tabling a number of questions about the investigation.

The call for action was made by Joseph Ryan, who was at the school in the '80s, and fellow pupil, Martin Dye, 51, who was there during the 1970s.

Both claim there was a 'failure of duty' by Cumbria Police and the review will now look at what, if anything, went wrong.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has also been informed.

Cumbria Police say they will appoint a Detective Chief Inspector who will lead on the 'internal review'.

It will focus on the 'standard' of the investigation during 1996-97 and whether there were any police 'misconduct' issues, said a statement.

It is expected that the review will take at least a month and the Independent Police Complaints Commission has also been informed.

Mr Ryan, now living in Crumpsall, Manchester, spent his early years at Burton-in-Kendal and after a spell at Underley Hall, between the ages of 10 and 15, he spent his teens living in Romney Gardens, Kendal.

Martin Dye commented: "We very much welcome the internal review of the original 1996-97 police investigation and hope for an honest, thorough report."

Seventeen years ago, John Wadlow, a Grange-based former outdoor pursuits teacher at the school gassed himself in his car having appeared in court facing a number of sex charges against pupils at the school which, an inquest heard, he ‘totally denied’.

A few months later in 1997, Philip Jefferson, 31, a former pupil, who returned to the school to work as a handyman and gardener, also committed suicide by setting his car on fire near Settle, his inquest was told.

* In July, Cumbria Police launched an investigation called Operation Tweed to investigate historical complaints about ‘a number’ of residential schools across Cumbria - including Underley Hall School and Witherslack Hall School. Police say it centres on allegations dating back to the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and is headed by DCI Doug Marshall.